Tami Clayton

I’m currently in the throes of planning and prepping for NaNoWriMo and as such am feeling crunched for time to adequately pull together my usual Monday travel posts. So, for the next several weeks you’ll find a hodge-podge of things going on in the kasbah on Mondays, ranging from local happenings in my area to book reviews to guest bloggers. Then, when the craziness of November is over, I hope to return to some of my more in-depth travel posts.

Today, I’m going to share with y’all something from the local scene where I live. Recently, I had the good fortune to go on a hike at Silver Falls State Park with a friend of mine visiting from Chicago. I’ve been to Silver Falls several times before in the spring and summer, but never in the autumn. It’s now my favorite time of year to go there.

Silver Falls State Park is located 26 miles east of the state capitol of Salem and is an easy day trip or makes for a great place to camp in either your own tent, RV or in one of the yurts available for rent.

Here’s the general information from the park website:

Nestled in the lower elevation of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains lies a temperate rain forest. It is here that the Trail of Ten Falls/Canyon Trail can be found. The Canyon Trail and the falls descend to a forest floor covered with ferns, mosses, and wildflowers. You will also find stands of Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar. While thousands visit the park every year, it is large enough for you to find quiet places to sit and watch for birds.

The Canyon Trail is a nationally recognized trail system that leads hikers along the banks of the north and south forks of Silver Creek. It takes you to 10 majestic waterfalls, ranging from the grand South Falls (177 feet), to the delicate Drake Falls (27 feet). Four of these falls have an amphitheater-like surrounding where you can walk behind the falls and feel the misty, crisp spray.

walking behind South Falls

from the other side of the South Falls

Silver Creek

sunlight filtering through the trees on to the path

We were so fortunate to have such a gorgeous day to do our hike. We completed a five-mile loop of the winding and sometimes steep Trail of Ten Falls with the sounds of waterfalls, the bubbling creek, and the wind in the trees as the soundtrack to it all. It was a perfect way to spend an autumn afternoon with my friend.

~*~

And how about you, adventurous readers? Have you gone on any hikes lately? What lovely local places have you recently visited? I hope you’ll sit awhile in the kasbah and spin your travel tales with me. I always love hearing from you.